Friday, September 16, 2011

Cigar Store Indian

Dear world,

When we were in Old Town San Diego, I passed by a cigar store and there was a wooden Indian on the front porch. I asked Mom why it was there. She told me that in the old days these figures were used like advertising in front of tobacco stores. American Indians and tobacco were always associated because American Indians introduced tobacco to Europeans. So the carved Cigar Store Indians started in Europe then arrived in the U.S. in the 18th century. Hmmm. I thought she was going to tell me that Jerry Seinfeld or Kramer brought it there.